The Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Adebooye, has strongly encouraged Nigerian students and young professionals to focus on maximizing opportunities within Nigeria instead of seeking uncertain prospects abroad. Speaking at the 2025 Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovation Training Programme held recently at the university’s Osogbo campus, Prof. Adebooye emphasized that Nigeria is a land rich with potential for innovation and success.
According to Prof. Adebooye, success in Nigeria is achievable through creativity, focus on individual strengths, and innovative thinking. He stated, “Nigeria is a land of opportunities for everyone. It only requires identifying your area of strength, building on it, and becoming successful. Once you can think out of the box, you achieve success in Nigeria better than in the United States of America or Canada.”
Expressing concern over the growing trend of professionals abandoning established careers in Nigeria for menial jobs abroad, Prof. Adebooye lamented the loss of dignity and talent when highly skilled Nigerians become support staff in foreign countries. He criticized this migration pattern and urged Nigerians to apply their knowledge domestically to foster innovation and nation-building. “If that is the way we are thinking as Nigerians, then we have a problem. We should use the knowledge we have gained to build this nation by identifying that single idea, blow it up, and make a living from it,” he added.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Dayo Sobowale of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, who highlighted the critical need to combine vocational skills with entrepreneurial acumen. Dr. Sobowale explained that practical knowledge in managing, marketing, and expanding enterprises is crucial for graduates to create jobs and wealth rather than depend on limited government or private sector vacancies. “Vocational skills alone are not sufficient; the ability to manage, market and expand a business is what makes the difference between self-employment and wealth creation,” he stated.
Dr. Adepeju Adigun, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies at UNIOSUN, reinforced the university’s commitment to embedding entrepreneurship into its curriculum. She emphasized that the initiative aims to prepare students for real-world challenges and equip them to become job creators instead of job seekers after graduation. “We are committed to producing job creators rather than job seekers,” she affirmed.
The training event at UNIOSUN underscores a growing recognition among Nigerian educational institutions of the importance of entrepreneurship in tackling unemployment and fostering economic growth. As the country navigates challenges related to brain drain and youth unemployment, insights from leaders like Prof. Adebooye signal a push towards leveraging local talent and opportunities for sustainable national development.
